To the Guards’ Chapel this morning for a Service to remember Shane Gough.
I remember him coming to stay at Barmeath when he was still at Pirbright with my brother, prior to them both being commissioned into the Irish Guards. I was about eight and remember he drove an old Bentley or Rolls. He was a Godfather to my nephew so I saw him at family events but I only really got to know him in the last thirty years when our lives coincided at meetings of the Friendly Brothers of St Patrick, in clubland and specially when he enrolled me as a trustee of the Benevolent Society of St Patrick. He had been a member of this excellent charity’s Grand Committee, as the Board of Trustees are known, for so long that nobody can remember how long.
He was a trustee of many charities and when an issue arose at the BSSP he would wait until everyone else had contributed before diffidently suggesting that the course adopted by one of his other charities might be worth considering. At the end of our meetings he would invariably ask after my brother, sister-in-law and his Godson. They all attended his funeral at Strathpeffer near Dingwall where he lived, when not in London, and had farms.
Three items from this morning’s service were most appropriate and I quote them as they may be unfamiliar to you.
IthanktheeGod,thatIhavelived
Inthisgreatworldandknownitsmanyjoys;
Thesongofbirds,thestrongsweetscentofhay,
Andcoolingbreezesinthesecretdusk;
Theflamingsunsetsatthecloseofday,
Hillsandthelovely,heather-coveredmoors;
Musicatnight,andmoonlightonthesea,
Thebeatofwavesupontherockyshore
Andwildwhitespray,flunghighinecstasy;
Thefaithfuleyesofdogs,andtreasuredbooks,
Theloveof kinandfellowshipoffriends
Andallthatmakeslifedearandbeautiful.
Ithank theetoo,thattherehascometome
Alittlesorrowandsometimesdefeat,
Alittleheartacheandtheloneliness
Thatcomeswithparting,andtheword‘Good-bye‘.
Dawnbreakingafterwearyhoursofpain,
WhenIdiscoveredthatnight’sgloommustyield
Andmorninglightbreakthroughtomeagain.
Becauseoftheseandotherblessingspoured
Unaskeduponmywonderinghead,
BecauseIknowthatthereisyettocome
Anevenricherandmoregloriouslife,
Andmostofall,because thineonlySon
Oncesacrificedlife’slovelinessforme,
Ithank thee,God,thatIhavelived.
Elizabeth Craven, 1750 – 1828
Almighty God, who through the glory of the eternal Trinity, hast inspired men in every age to love and serve thee and hast promised that none shall be separated from thy love who truly trust in thee; we beseech thee that thou wouldst keep thy servants the Irish Guards steadfast in this faith, that they may show it forth not only with their lips but in their lives, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen
The Regimental Collect of the Irish Guards
Deep peace of the running wave to you, deep peace of the flowing air to you, deep peace of the quiet earth to you, deep peace of the shining stars to you , deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you, deep peace of Christ to you.
A Gaelic Blessing, John Rutter, 1945 –
3 comments
R.I.P. godfather Shane
I was very glad to have made the effort to have attended his funeral in Scotland. It was both socially undaunting and rewarding to have finally got to know a little of what made him who he was; inspiring even. It was made all the more pleasant by the accompaniment of my parents and son who made up a good four for Bridge on the ferry!
Thank you Christopher for the heads up and assistance getting us there.
Dear Christopher,
Shane went to Abberley Hall in Worcestershire, a prep school that was run by my grandfather, Gilbert Ashton from 1921-1961. He became a friend of the family and would often visit my mother and father in Devon. As children we found him quite eccentric and he amused us, not always in the way he intended. My mother is now in a ‘residential home’ and when I see her on Wednesday 25th I will let her know.
I recall that Shane was sometimes at the house of one of my great-aunts on the edge of Ripon . I remember Shane at a drinks party 38 yrs ago , at a local Residents’ Association AGM which he chaired , at my brother’s wedding 32 yrs ago .
The Property & Human Resources
Director at one of my work places counted Shane as a great friend , albeit with an age gap of 6 years , with Abberley Hall , Winchester & Guards .
R.I.P. godfather Shane
I was very glad to have made the effort to have attended his funeral in Scotland. It was both socially undaunting and rewarding to have finally got to know a little of what made him who he was; inspiring even. It was made all the more pleasant by the accompaniment of my parents and son who made up a good four for Bridge on the ferry!
Thank you Christopher for the heads up and assistance getting us there.
Dear Christopher,
Shane went to Abberley Hall in Worcestershire, a prep school that was run by my grandfather, Gilbert Ashton from 1921-1961. He became a friend of the family and would often visit my mother and father in Devon. As children we found him quite eccentric and he amused us, not always in the way he intended. My mother is now in a ‘residential home’ and when I see her on Wednesday 25th I will let her know.
I recall that Shane was sometimes at the house of one of my great-aunts on the edge of Ripon . I remember Shane at a drinks party 38 yrs ago , at a local Residents’ Association AGM which he chaired , at my brother’s wedding 32 yrs ago .
The Property & Human Resources
Director at one of my work places counted Shane as a great friend , albeit with an age gap of 6 years , with Abberley Hall , Winchester & Guards .
Robert